Ervin campaigns in Carteret

Judges in North Carolina are elected in nonpartisan races, and Judge Sam J. Ervin IV believes it should stay that way.

JANNETTE PIPPIN - Daily News Staff

MOREHEAD CITY — Judges in North Carolina are elected in nonpartisan races, and Judge Sam J. Ervin IV believes it should stay that way.

Ervin currently serves on the N.C. Court of Appeals and is running against incumbent Judge Paul Newby for a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.

There is no Democrat and Republican label on the ballot beside their names, and Erwin said the bench is no place for political agendas.

“A judge’s political views shouldn’t have an impact on his or her decisions, and since that is the case I think it is appropriate that judges are elected on nonpartisan ballots,” he said during a campaign stop recently in Morehead City.

There was a switch from partisan to nonpartisan elections for the judges in 2004.

Ervin, a native of Morganton, had a private law practice from 1981 to 1999 and was a member of the N.C. Utilities Commission from 1999 to 2009. He has served on the N.C. Court of Appeals since 2009.

Ervin said he’s always enjoyed legal analysis and his work with the Utilities Commission was similar to what he does now, with quasi-judicial work.

As a judge on Court of Appeals he has produced more than 325 opinions and helped decide more than 900 cases.

Key to the work, he said is remaining fair and impartial.

“I think I’ve demonstrated in my 13 and a half years of judicial and quasi-judicial work that, first of all, I work hard and that I play close attention to the facts, and I think I have a reputation of being fair and impartial without having an agenda,” he said.

He chooses not to comment on Newby’s work but said he’ll let voters look at his background and experience to decide. But he does comment on concerns he has about campaign financing in judicial elections

Both he and Newby participate in public campaign financing, which Ervin said helps keep big money out of judiciary races, preserving independence.

Political Action Committees, PACS, however, are able to raise unlimited funds to support a candidate, and super PACs have emerged this election with advertisements supporting Newby.

The PACs cannot coordinate with the candidates and any funds raised are indirect, but Ervin said, regardless of the judicial candidate, an influx of outside money behind judicial candidates could threaten the independence of the judicial system.

“I think ultimately what is at stake this election is the continued existence of an independent judiciary system,” he said.

For more information about Ervin’s campaign, go to the website at ErvinforSupremeCourt.com.